mac430 Loc: NE Wisconsin

Starting this week, the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) hosts is annual week long Fly-in in Oshkosh, Wi. There are plentiful photographic opportunities for any enthusiast. There is an air show every afternoon, and 2 special performances by the Air Force Thunderbirds. I have photographed this event in the past, with acceptable results.

However, one of the evening events planned is "The Rockwell Collins Night Air Show, scheduled to begin at approximately 8:30 p.m., with fireworks and the 'Wall of Fire' to follow." The three most difficult things to combine are, 1) shooting at dusk, 2) fast flying warbirds (planes), and 3) the pyrotechnics of "bombs" being dropped on the runway.

There are not a lot of opportunities to practice for this scenario, so I am asking for the assistance of you more experienced photographers, as to where to begin with camera settings. With the 'fire' I am assuming I can shoot with a lower aperture and higher shutter speed? And maybe tweak up the ISO?

The equipment I have available is a Nikon D7100 with a 28-300mm f/3.5 - 5.6, and a 70-200mm f/2.8 with a 2.0 teleconverter. I am not sure how close or far away I will be to the action.

Thank you in advance for your suggestions!

Marc-Wi Loc: Oshkosh Wi

The Warbirds will not fly at night. they fly in the afternoon airshow only. According to the Air Venture site only Tue. and Thrs. this year, unless they change it. I don't remember this years order but in years past the night show is started with Areo Shell team while they can still see each other then as it really gets dark only solo performers go up. No pyro bombs are dropped at night. That takes care of some of your worries. As soon as the fireworks are done the wall of fire goes off, if all goes well. Sometimes it takes a small wait. The couple that has been doing the pyro since forever retired at the end of last season so we'll see how this year goes. The wall is fast and furious, You almost need your shutter open when it goes off. I haven't tried to shoot it just enjoy it. It wouldn't hurt to have a small radio tuned to AM1210 if you can't hear the announcer on the PA.He keeps you informed.
Good shooting and good luck.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Mac, if you need to get in all of the elements into one shot, you could put the camera on a tripod and shoot 3 different shots, then do a final composit.
Just an idea. ;-)
SS

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Do yourself a favor and rent a 300mm F2.8, or a 120-300 F2.8 - the Sigma will cost you $165 for a week and it will be sharper and faster to focus than either of your two alternatives, especially in poor light.

mac430 Loc: NE Wisconsin

Thanks Marc-Wi. I have never been to the night show, and obviously am not quite sure of what happens during those performances. I have seen the 'bombs' dropped during the day and it was impressive. I appreciate your response and information!

mac430 Loc: NE Wisconsin

Thanks SharpShooter. Unfortunately, with the expected crowd size and most likely not being on the front line, I think the tripod will be out of the question. But I appreciate your response none-the-less.

mac430 Loc: NE Wisconsin

Thanks for your suggestion Gene51.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Any of the night or even low light shots without a tripod will sorta not work so don't even try. End of that problem. If it is raining they probably delay the show. So you will probably have descent light. The only thing you will have a problem with is a an overcast sky with a high enough ceiling to allow flight. Under those circumstances, as I am sure you already know, just watch the settings to get the best DOF and low noise. Never shot an air show so take this with a very large grain of salt.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

I usually take a 600 and a 100-300 zoom -both F4, and during the day I can get away with shooting at F5.6 with the 300 zoom and F4-f8 with the 600 F4 - ISO 100-200 and doing a lot of careful panning and tracking. The 300 zoom gets used 75% of the time. I've never done one at dusk. Cloudy skies are a bust.

Can't wait to see what you come up with.

Marc-Wi Loc: Oshkosh Wi

The Thunderbirds fly Fri, Sat, Sun. The flight box for the shows on those days is greatly enlarged. All viewing areas will be severely set back. Use the earlier days to scout out a good location to shoot from. Practice on Wed wall of fire to get some ideas for Sat. On the days the Tbirds aren't flying and after their show Sat the viewing area should go back to normal, or so I'm told. You may have room for a tripod for the fireworks and wall of fire but you might have to extend it more than you like to clear heads. When you grt old you can't pan as fast as you used to or maybe they just fly faster, ya, that's it faster.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

A 600 on a full frame gets you a little bit closer than a 300 on a cropped sensor, but using a 1.4x TC will give you similar results.

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Marc-Wi Loc: Oshkosh Wi

Read in todays paper one of the pilots is a lady- home town Rice Lake. Flies position #3 right.

mac430 Loc: NE Wisconsin

Thanks again Marc-Wi, for your suggestions. I've been using that 'faster' excuse for awhile too!

mac430 Loc: NE Wisconsin

Thanks again Gene51

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

With my A77 I shot the night airshow at Oshkosh this year in program mode with ISO at 1600 using my 17-50 F2.8. The camera chose f4-f2.8. I might have been able to get away with a lower ISO or used Aperture priority at 2,8, but I'd only had the lens for like 3 or 4 days before I left for Oshkosh, so it was more of an experiment than anything else. The shots were a bit grainy, but if you're not a pixel-peeper, they aren't too bad...fir a first attempt anyways. Mind if I post pics?